What is “Swedish death cleaning”?
The name “Swedish Death Cleaning” gets a lot of attention for good reason but once you learn about it, it’s a pretty sensible, practical way to deal with your possessions as you approach your later years.
What is döstädning (death cleaning)?
She explains the notion of döstädning, which translates to “death cleaning.” The idea is to declutter your life before you die to release the burden from the loved ones you leave behind. “It’s a loving thing to do for the people you care about.
What should you do when someone dies in Sweden?
An important part of Swedish death cleaning is communicating your wishes to your friends or family. It’s a good idea to let at least one person know where you want your treasured items to go. It’s also a good idea to inform someone of your login details for banks and utilities, which can be notoriously hard to find after someone has passed away. 8.
What is death cleaning and how do you do it?
Death cleaning isn't about dying. It's about looking back on your life and only keeping what's important. Through the process, you'll take stock of your many blessings, relive fond memories, and be able to archive your greatest treasures, according to Funeral Zone.
What is Swedish Death Cleaning method?
In practical terms, this means organizing and decluttering your home to reduce the burden of sifting through dozens of objects and trying to decide what's significant. With Swedish Death Cleaning, you'll have already done that for them by only holding onto items you've determined to be essential.
When should I start death cleaning?
1. Know When to Begin. Magnusson says that 65 is a great age at which to start death cleaning. You want to still be physically able to tackle the work but also have time to invest in it.
What is Norwegian death cleaning?
The uniquely Swedish practice of 'Döstädning' (death-cleaning) is a method of decluttering based on which objects will be of value to loved ones after your death. “My motto for cleaning is simply: If you don't love it, lose it. If you don't use it, lose it,” Magnusson told The Local.
What does Munkensmat mean?
The Swedish Death Cleaning, or the Munkensmat, as my crush would call it. She went on and on about this over the entire office and that's where I learned about this technique. Yep, the name “Swedish Death Cleaning” sounds horrible, but it's actually a really helpful concept.
How do you clean your parents house after death?
Steps to Clean Out a Home When a Loved One PassesStep 1: Find Important Documents. ... Step 2: Forward Mail. ... Step 3: Change Locks. ... Step 4: Take a Tour and Process Everything. ... Step 5: Create a Plan of Action and Timeline. ... Step 6: Start Sorting Through Items and Clearing Out Rooms. ... Step 7: Donate or Sell High-Value Items.More items...•
How do you declutter extreme?
3:4319:47Getting rid of so much stuff | Small home Declutter and clean with meYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd when i'm decluttering i go section by section instead of pulling out all of my clothes. AndMoreAnd when i'm decluttering i go section by section instead of pulling out all of my clothes. And putting them in one pile like some people do recommend.
When should you start Swedish Death cleaning?
Magnusson says you should begin Swedish death cleaning if you're 65 or older, but as Igwe said, this process is really for anyone. The earlier you start the better because it's really a lifestyle.
What does the Swede say about cleaning after death?
And though the Swede reiterates throughout the book the benefits you’ll feel after death cleaning, she stresses, it’s about doing a favor for those who survive you, too.
What is death cleaning?
Death cleaning is not about dusting or mopping up; it is about a permanent form of organization that makes your everyday life run more smoothly. Magnusson was born in Sweden and describes herself as “aged between 80 and 100.”.
What does Magnusson say about death cleaning?
It might help you better cope with the reality of your own mortality. “We must all talk about death. If it’s too hard to address, then death cleaning can be a way to start the conversation,” Magnusson writes in the book. And on that point, Magnusson is on to something, Morin says.
What does "dö" mean in Swedish?
In Swedish, the exercise is döstädning — a combination of the word “dö” (which means death) and “standing” (which means cleaning), she explains in the book. “Death cleaning is not about dusting or mopping up; it is about a permanent form of organization that makes your everyday life run more smoothly,” she explains.
What is the Swedish term for death cleaning?
You may already know about hygge and lagom —two popular lifestyle trends coined and popularized by the Scandinavians, but have you heard of döstädning? Döstädning, which means "death cleaning" in English, is a new method of downsizing and organizing from the Swedish author and artist Margareta Magnusson.
Who is the author of Swedish Death Cleaning?
Magnusson is the author of the upcoming book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter, which describes the practice in detail. You'll have to wait until January to get your hands on a copy, but here's what we know about the cleaning system so far: 1. It's not just for people over 50.
Is death cleaning emotionally taxing?
Begin there and perhaps you'll feel motivated to tackle the attic. 7. It's very therapeutic. Death cleaning isn't about dying. It's about looking back on your life and only keeping what's important.
Is death cleaning morbid?
Sure, it sounds morbid, but it's actually a pretty smart idea. Death cleaning isn't about getting rid of all your stuff, but rather streamlining your life so you're only holding onto what makes you happy. "Death cleaning is not about dusting or mopping up," Magnusson told The Chronicle.
What is Swedish death cleaning?
The name “Swedish Death Cleaning” gets a lot of attention for good reason but once you learn about it, it’s a pretty sensible, practical way to deal with your possessions as you approach your later years. It’s based on a book, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family From a Lifetime ...
What is the book "Döstädning" about?
Magnusson, a Swede, writes about the Swedish idea of döstädning, which translates to death cleaning . Dö means death in Swedish and städning means cleaning.
Is Swedish death cleaning off putting?
Yes, the name Swedish Death Cleaning is off-putting but it's kind of meant to jar you into action to decrease the burden on your family. Find out what you need to know about Swedish Death Cleaning.
What is death cleaning in Sweden?
Part of Swedish death cleaning is giving away, donating, or throwing out items right now, rather than waiting until you’re gone to pass them on. For example, if you’re holding onto your mother’s wedding ring because you want to pass it down as an heirloom, you can pass it on now, instead.
What is the Swedish word for death cleaning?
Swedish death cleaning aims to solve that problem, at least in part. Döstädning is the Swedish word for death cleaning. And it’s a method of decluttering that’s sweeping across Scandinavia and the United States, alike.
What does "dö" mean in Swedish?
In Swedish, dö means “death,” and städning means “cleaning.”. But döstädning—“death cleaning”—isn’t something you do after someone has died. Instead, Swedish death cleaning is a process you undertake in preparation for your own death. Death cleaning has the goal of ridding your home of unnecessary belongings and clutter.
How to clean a Swedish death?
2. Take a deep breath. Swedish death cleaning is practical and unsentimental. It’s all about ridding your home of as many items as you can, without making daily life harder on yourself. Before you dive into Swedish death cleaning, take a deep breath and prepare to make some tough decisions.
Who is Margareta Magnusson?
Margareta Magnusson is the author of the definitive text on Swedish death cleaning, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. Magnusson presents the method as a means to living a happier life, in addition to making things easier for your loved ones after you die.
Do you have to be dead to do Swedish death cleaning?
You don’t have to be dying to start Swedish death cleaning. In fact, you’ll get many more benefits out of the process and the results if you begin as soon as possible.
Can you clean out your house after death?
When your family cleans out your home after your death, you want them to have as few boxes to worry about as possible. While you’re still alive, though, you might have photos and other personal items you want to hold onto as keepsakes.
What is the Swedish death cleaning method?
Swedish Death Cleaning, which comes from the Swedish döstädning, is giving the KonMari method by Marie Kondo a run for its money. Based on Swedish artist and writer Margareta Magnusson's book the Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, this method for clearing and organising your living space is useful for anyone struggling with clutter ...
Is Swedish Death Cleaning the same as Marie Kondo?
Some people have commented that Swedish Death Cleaning is the opposite of Mari e Kondo's decluttering method , since one is focused on your family, while the other on your own preferences. But there's one thing both methods have in common: they will help you get rid of ugly storage in your home.
Is death cleaning a Swedish minimalism?
There's a good dose of Swedish minimalism in Magnusson's thinking, and this will appeal to adults of any age. And don't worry: you don't need to be a cleaning obsessive to use this method. 'Death cleaning is not about dusting or mopping up,' Magnusson told The Chronicle. 'It is about a permanent form of organisation that makes your everyday life ...
If you've ever lost a family member, you know the conversations surrounding who gets what stuff don't always end well. And even if they do, cleaning out the home of a loved one isn't easy
That's where Swedish death cleaning comes in — the process of organizing and de-cluttering your belongings before you, well, die. But it's as much for you as it is for the people who come after you.
When I first heard about Swedish death cleaning I assumed, fairly, that it was some special process Swedish people used to clean the dead. I was...incorrect
In Swedish, the word for death cleaning is döstädning, which is a term for the cleaning and de-cluttering you do when you think your time on Earth might be coming to an end. But really, you can death clean at any age or stage in your life.
The book is written by the very funny Margareta Magnusson, who describes herself as being somewhere between "80 and 100 years old."
"Let me help make your loved ones' memories of you nice — instead of awful," she writes. "A loved one wishes to inherit nice things from you. Not all things from you."
When it comes to death cleaning, an important thing to remember is that it's meant to be hard, but not sad
In terms of the actual process of death cleaning, Magnusson has a lot of advice on how to do it:
But one of my favorite tips is to create a "throw away" box, filled with items that mean a lot to you, but nothing to anyone else
This box could hold anything from "old love letters, programs, memories from traveling" to "a dried flower, a stone with a funny shape, or a little, beautiful shell". The idea is that your friends or family may look through the box, but have permission (from you!) to get rid of anything inside.
How to clean a Swedish death?
1. Let Your Loved Ones Know. An important part of Swedish death cleaning is involving the people close to you. Not only will this keep you accountable, but it also gives you the opportunity to share memories with the people you love. “Look at it from a positive place.
Is Swedish death cleaning a one size fits all approach?
Swedish death cleaning isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. What you get rid of or keep is dependent on your comfort level, your needs and lifestyle, who you may be saving things for and how much space you have in your house. “Make sure to only have around you what fits in your life now. Clothing and books are easy things to get rid of.
Is Swedish death cleaning morbid?
Swedish death cleaning isn’t as morbid as it sounds. In fact, it’s a lifestyle that revolves around letting go of your junk using the simple question, “Will anyone be happier if I save this?”
1. The Guiding Question
According to Margareta Magnusson, the author of the book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, there’s one simple question that should guide you as you sort through your things: “Will anyone be happier if I save this?” It will help keep you on track as you start to make decisions about what is worth keeping and what you could toss out.
3. Tackle Your Closet
Instead of veering down Memory Lane with photos, start by clearing out your closet. Sort through all of your clothes and set aside anything you don’t wear regularly.
4. Consider Re-Gifting
A lot of us have plenty of books, knick-knacks, and other items we don’t necessarily need. Giving those things away can be an easy way to cut back on clutter! For example, giving a cherished book to a friend can make a really meaningful gift, and help you downsize at the same time.
5. Make Memories Manageable
When you’re ready to tackle photos, journals, and other items, find ways to downsize. There are plenty of services that can help you digitize old photos and videos! As far as keeping material keepsakes, try to limit yourself to one box or container.
6. Make It A Party
Another way to quickly downsize on your possessions is to throw a party of sorts! Invite your friends and family over to go through your unwanted stuff to see if there’s anything they’d like to have before you donate or toss it. (This is generally nicer than forcing your unwanted items on uninterested family members.) :-)
7. Involve Others
An important part of Swedish death cleaning is communicating your wishes to your friends or family. It’s a good idea to let at least one person know where you want your treasured items to go. It’s also a good idea to inform someone of your login details for banks and utilities, which can be notoriously hard to find after someone has passed away.
8. Start Early
Margareta Magnusson suggests that 65 is a good time to start death cleaning, but you can start thinking about it earlier than that. If you have any hoarder-type tendencies, you may want to get those in check well before you start the actual death cleaning process.